Schools

K-L School Board Candidate: Peter Treyz

Treyz is one of four candidates vying for three seats on the board.

On May 21, Katonah-Lewisboro voters will vote on a $114 million budget proposal and elect three new school board members. 

Below is a brief bio of Peter Treyz and his replies to a set of questions sent to all of the K-L candidates.

Treyz is a retired orthodontist and is a current resident of South Salem. He was born in Lewisboro in 1932. His grandfather was principal of the "Katonah School" from which his mother and her siblings graduated. After moving away for education and employment, Dr. Treyz and his wife returned to town in 1960 to raise their seven children, all of whom graduated from John Jay High School. A retired dentist, Treyz has served on the board for the last three years. He taught continuing education at John Jay High School for 30 years and coached youth basketball and baseball. 

Patch: What strengths will you bring to the board?

Treyz: The strengths I will bring mainly are based on history, many relatives graduating from the "Katonah School", a grandfather who was principal of that school, seven of our own children, and 18 grandchildren who have graduated, and four still attending John Jay High School. This gives me a present as well as retrospective view of where we are, where we were, and possibly a more clear view of where we are heading.

Patch: What issues facing the district do you feel most strongly about?

Treyz: The issues I feel more strongly about surely must be the concern for quality education, sustainability of business management, educating our students more efficiently with the increased use of technology, encouraging more participation from the community—not just those with students in school— and last but certainly not least, the improvement of our collective bargaining outcomes.

Patch: Describe the quality of education you think students are getting in the district. Are there measures you would take to improve upon it?

Treyz: The quality of the education in general has been decreasing because of "NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND," but it had been declining for sometime previous to that initiative resulting in "A MILE WIDE AN INCH DEEP" philosophy of academic achievement, as well as N.Y.S.ED. mandates lowering regents requirements. I will certainly like to see more emphasis on the "STEM" Philosophy, Science,  Technology,  Engineering and Math.

Patch: All three collective bargaining agreements are up this year. Describe how you see the current state of labor relations in the district.

Treyz: Labor relations in the district have been rather tumultuous over the past couple of years, but I actually believe that because all stakeholders related to these matters are working very diligently to improve all facets of this very controversial situation. There are many bridges still to be crossed, but I am hopeful for a mutually beneficial resolution.  

Patch: What do you think the long-term impact of the tax cap will be on Katonah Lewisboro schools?

Treyz: The long term impact of the tax cap will be totally dependent on how we all adapt to it. If we are innovative, intelligent, it will help us all, otherwise it will be a potential disaster. I support it completely because it should force us all to think  "outside the box," and stop us from just "kicking the can" down the road!

Patch:What do you think about the Common Core standards? Will they benefit K-L students?

Treyz: Common Core standards are not new, we had them many years ago when we had a curriculum coordinator for the whole district, but somehow, the concept was "lost in the sauce." Common core should absolutely help all students and education in general.

Patch: The district is studying various approaches to managing its shrinking population. Are there specific ideas you would support in this area?

Treyz: Surely it would be foolish, and completely unsustainable to keep the "status quo" on buildings, infrastructure, employees, etc with the shrinking population. Therefore, it behooves us all to make whatever adjustments we see fit, even closing schools, to have the district function as efficiently as possible.

Patch: Is there anything we haven’t asked that you would like the public to know about you or your candidacy?

Treyz: There is definitely a learning curve to being a Trustee, and since I'm completing my 6th year, I would say I've been educated in this regard, so I bring experience and the commitment to serve again.


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